Abstract

Raspberry is a berry crop of great economic importance, and its cultivation has expanded worldwide. Information on the genetic parameters of raspberry for use in breeding programs is currently limited. We used Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML) and Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) to estimate variance components and predict genetic parameters for morphological, phytochemical, and mineral components in primocane-fruiting raspberries in southern Brazil. The experimental design was randomized blocks in a factorial scheme, with two production cycles (fall and spring) x three cultivars (‘Alemãzinha’, ‘Heritage’ and, ‘Fallgold’), with eight replicates. A total of 27 traits were evaluated, out of which only the traits beginning of fruit harvest, plant height, dry mass of pruning, average fruit weight, total phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, antioxidant activity, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, and titratable acidity showed significant differences. The anthocyanins presented 87% of broad sense heritability, and this high value indicates that this trait can be improved through selection. Plant height, fruit weight, total phenolic compounds, Mg and Fe had moderate broad sense heritability (46, 58, 58, 51, and 66%, respectively); and the traits beginning of fruit harvest, dry mass of pruning, antioxidant activity, Ca, Cu, Mn, Zn, and titratable acidity are strongly influenced by production cycle effects. Greater genetic variance contribution in the interaction between genotypes × production cycle was observed for plant height, fruit weight, total phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, antioxidant activity, Mg and Fe. The genotype ‘Alemãzinha’ was superior for beginning of fruit harvest, plant height, anthocyanins, titratable acidity, and several minerals. Five inheritable profiles were found; the profile IV, including plant height, fruit weight, Mg, Fe, and total phenols had moderate broad sense heritability. Only profile V, composed of anthocianins, presented high heritability.